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How to Plant When adding the soil to the container, don't add it to the top of the rim. Depend- ing on the size of the container, leave space (for a larger pot, an inch or two) so that there is room to add water. If the con- tainer is filled with soil, water will roll off the soil surface before it has time to soak in. Before adding plants, thoroughly water the soil so that it is moist. This may take some time as most container soil is ex- tremely dry out of the bag. It almost as if the soil needs "primed" with water. Watering Another key to successful container gar- dening is to water regularly so that the plants don't become too dry causing stress. Rain alone will not be enough. Rain water tends to bounce off leaves and there is very little "run-off" into the containers. There- fore, supplemental watering is critical. Observation is really the key. Note the en- vironmental conditions- amount of sun/ shade, wind etc. to help gauge when plants need water, also important to note is the type of plants that you have planted and their specific needs. Be sure to plant like plants together that need the same type of soil and light. When watering, fill the space between the soil surface and the container's rim with water. Allow the water to soak into the soil. If it is hot and the soil is very dry, it may be necessary to repeat this process several times. During the heat of the summer, it is very difficult to overwater containers. As mentioned earlier, the heat and wind will dry-out soil and roots within a day. However, plants in a shady location may need watered less frequently. If you have a lot of containers, it is worth- while to consider a drip tube watering system. It can make watering a breeze for those with busy schedules. A timer can be added to automatically water during vacations. Fertilizing Another key to having beautiful, productive container gardens all season is to fertilize regularly. Plants in containers have a limited nutrient resource available to the root system. Therefore, nutrients must be added regu- larly to keep the foliage dark green and encourage flower bud development. Those in the know recommend a slow release fertilizer to the soil surface after planting. Pro Tip Don't apply water-soluble fertil- izer to dry plants as this can burn roots and leaves. First, thoroughly moisten the soil with plain water and then fertilize.